How Passion Can Shape An Excellent Cycling Tour Guide?
Cuong used to work in the military, where he lived a disciplined and stable life. But his love for travel and exploring new places led him to become a tour guide. His journey started with a close friend who was already a tour guide and encouraged him to follow the same path.
With over 12 years of experience, Cuong has gained valuable knowledge and skills as a tour guide. Even though he had to take a break for two years because of COVID-19, he never gave up on his passion. He’s been with 365 Travel for two years and is known as a highly professional guide, receiving great reviews from 365 Travel clients. Not only that, Cuong also dreamed of becoming a professional biking tour guide, leading adventurous travelers on challenging rides and breathtaking landscapes.
Everything needs patience and time
Being a tour guide took a lot of work for Cuong at first. His biggest challenge was not a lack of knowledge or travel experience, but the language barrier. He lived and worked in Sapa for about ten years, and he felt unconfident seeing the H’Mong and Dao people speaking English fluently with foreigners, while he couldn’t.
Travelers join an cycling tour to Lao Cai, Vietnam
At 32, he decided to learn English from scratch, like a child learning their first language. He faced challenges and difficulties learning a new language at an older age but never stopped trying. He slowly improved his communication skills, gained more confidence, and started leading more tours with foreign travelers
Adventure tours are the way to explore our boundaries
Not stopping there, he took on a new challenge – cycling tours. These tours require more physical strength and skills than regular tours. Cuong says, “Cycling tours need more than just fitness. You need to know about the terrain, how to use and maintain bikes, and how to handle unexpected situations. The long, difficult routes and unpredictable weather pushed my limits. But these challenges make me love this job even more. It lets me explore new places while pushing my boundaries.”
Cuong has faced many challenges on his adventure cycling tours, from getting used to new roads to handling unexpected situations. But he always stays positive and keeps going. He says, “After each trip, I’m tired, but seeing my clients happy and enjoying their adventure, pushing their limits with me, makes it all worthwhile.”
After each stage of the journey, although he could rest, Cuong always puts his clients’ safety first and his responsibility as a guide. He takes the time to check their bikes, making sure they’re ready for the next day of the trip.
Cuong and his clients on an cycling tour though Ma Pi Leng, Ha Giang
Not only the knowledge, but the passion leads to the success
Cuong on his cycling journey to Sapa, Vietnam
Cuong says tour guides need more than just being physically fit to be a good cycling tour guide. They need to know a lot about the places, the history, and how to handle unexpected things. However, without passion, nothing can be completed. “If you don’t have passion, it’s hard to do this job well, even if you have a lot of knowledge and are physically strong. Passion helps me overcome challenges and tiredness on every trip.” That’s why Cuong always follows the motto “Duty first, pleasure after.”